Products of Bonaire - Experience Bonaire

EXPERIENCE BONAIRE
3 rd Edition - 2014
Including the EB Club Card,
Your new favorite discount pass
Find us @ the Plaza Resort Marina
Tel: (+599) 782 7660 / 700 8677
[email protected]
www.southcaribbeansailing.com
Sailboat Rentals
Kayak Rentals
Sailing lessons
Sailing & snorkeling trips
Sunset trips
Sail with us to Curacao or
even the Las Aves islands
FROM THE EDITOR
We are proud to have you reading the third edition of this
magazine and we want you to experience Bonaire as we do.
An everlasting summer with fun and friendship, surrounded by
beautiful nature and beautiful people. Even such a small island,
for most designated as a diving destination, doesn't get boring.
There is so much to do and to enjoy. Through this magazine we
hope to give you a glimpse of our life on a rock and we hope
you will learn to love it as much as we do.
Willem J. Kalkwiek
Like our page on Facebook to
stay up to date with the fun
side of Bonaire. There is also an
online version of this magazine:
www.experience-bonaire.com
Facebook/ExperienceBonaire
This third edition features the new EB Club Card, offering you
a variety of discounts at businesses who joined in this idea to
offer something special to our readers and interactivity through
the magazine.
Bonaire is an incredible mix of many cultures and because of
that offers a great diversity of local and international food.
We thought we would help you to set out and find all these
different cultural flavors. We mention more local places to grab
a bite and have a chat with the locals.
Vacation demands are getting higher and higher. You (and we)
want more for your dollar. Bonaire can match those demands
with affordable and yet surprising luxury: Where are you or
your friends and family staying when they visit our beautiful
island? Did you ever consider forming a group and renting a
villa instead of the usual hotel rooms? You can spend your
Bonaire vacation bathing in luxury like a celebrity and you'll be
amazed to see how affordable it can be. One of the island's dive
centers appeals to this principle: VIP Diving introduces their
"Dive Butler" services that go way beyond diving and put you in
the seat of a celebrity.
As before, the contents of the magazine have been categorized
into four color coded sections: SEE, DO, TASTE and LIVE. In
these sections you'll find some interesting and fun stories, fun
facts and a lot of information about activities and restaurants.
We hope you will enjoy reading our articles and visit the
participants in our magazine to enjoy their great services.
You can support their efforts by leaving nice reviews on their
Tripadvisor pages. This is nowadays an important tool for the
(mostly) small and hard working businesses in Tourism.
This is a production of the Bonaire Design Studio
For contact on features or advertisement, please
contact: [email protected]
3
Points of interest
Emergency Numbers:
Emergency 911
Ambulance direct
912
Dive Medical Services
700 5230
Hospital / Decompression Chamber 717 8900
Traffic
Traffic coming from the right doesn't always have the right
of way. On most T-crossings, traffic going straight forward
has the right of way, even if they come from your left.
- Look for the signs that indicate right of way.
Pharmacies:
Botica Bonaire
Botica Korona
Botica Nikiboko
Botica Rincon
Maximum speed within urban areas is 40km/25mph
Maximum speed outside urban areas is 60km/37mph
717 8905
717 7552
717 5638
717 0130
Geographic Information:
Island size: +/- 110 mile² / 285 km²
Location: +/- 50 miles / 80 km off Venezuela &
30 miles / 48 km off Curacao
Highest peak: Seru Brandaris 791 feet / 241 m
There are no stoplights on Bonaire.
General rule of conduct
"No shirt - No service"
In most public places it is not appreciated to seek service in
dive gear or (wet) swimming trunks or bikinis and without
shoes.
Climate:
Temperature averages 82°F / 28°C, The hottest period
is in September/October due to low winds.
Water temperature averages 80°F / 26°C
Currency: US Dollar (Since 2011)
Languages:
The official languages are Dutch and Papiamentu. Very
common are English and Spanish. You may also hear people
speaking Portuguese or German.
Electricity:
Most homes and resorts operate 127 Volts (50Hz),
also common is 220V.
Water:
Drinking water is usually fine from the tap, but there is
always bottled water available in practically all stores.
5
Contents
NEW: The Experience Bonaire Club Card
8
SEE: A piece of the historic pie
11
A rich and diverse heritage
14
Rincon, A hidden gem18
Products of Bonaire20
DO:
Enjoy Bonaire's National Marine Park
Landside activities
23
30
TASTE: Caribbean dining, more than cocktails and fish
Restaurant & bar listing
37
47
LIVE:
49
Living on Bonaire: Traditional versus modern
Colofon
Concept and realization
Willem Kalkwiek
Jane Dorrestein
Design and Production
Bonaire Design Studio
Photography
Bon Photo
Marcus Seidel
Isabelle Kühn
Willem Kalkwiek
Cover photo
Bon Photo, Edited by Willem Kalkwiek
7
ANKE'S SCISSORS offers you:
When spending $40 or more, you'll receive a travel
haircare set, including Shampoo, conditioner and hair silk
oil in a woven travelbag.
DIVINO BAGNO offers you:
A 5% discount on all products.
SONIA HOME offers you:
"A modo mio" Menu (Chef's daily special menu for two).
$45.00 per person, incl. a bottle of house wine for free.
HOMESTYLE offers you:
A 10% discount on all products in stock.
LA PLACITA offers you:
A valuable present with a minimum spending of $10,-
8
Kaya Isla Riba #1
(+599) 717 2023
[email protected]
www.ankescissors.com
Kaya Industria z/n
(+599) 700 9307
www.divinobagno.com
Kaya Gobernador Debrot
(+599) 717 1758
[email protected]
www.soniahomebonaire.com
Kaya Amsterdam 25
(+599) 717 3060
[email protected]
www.homestylebonaire.com
Kaya Grandi 9
(+599) 717 6886
[email protected]
www.laplacitabonaire.com
VIP DIVING offers you:
Kaya Inglaterra
Tel. (+599) 701 7701
[email protected]
www.vipdiving.com
A 10% discount on all diving packages and products.
BENETTON offers you:
A 10% discount on all items in stock.
Kaya Grandi 29
Tel. (+599) 717-5107
Opening hours:
9:30am - 12:30pm / 1:30pm - 6:00pm
www.benetton.com
The EB Club Card provides you with discounts to products
and services as listed on these pages. This new EB action
is aimed to create interactivity between our advertisers
and readers through the EB magazine.
Basic rules of the game:
• When using the card to receive a discount on a
product or service, the designated punch hole will be
cut upon receiving your discount.
• When the EB Club Card is used to receive a discount,
only one card can be used per financial transaction
unless the vendor decides otherwise.
• Discounts do not apply to group sales or services
unless the vendor chooses so.
• Discounts do not apply in combination with other
discounts unless the vendor decides otherwise.
• This EB Club Card is valid from June 1st - December
1st 2014.
D
ACTUAL EB CAR
GE
GLUED INTO PA
9
The Flag of Bonaire
The flag has been in use since
December 11, 1981.
The yellow area represents the sun
and the flowers that the island hosts.
Most original Bonaire flowers are
yellow like the Kibrahacha, Anglo and
cactus flowers.
The color white represents peace and
internationalism.
The blue area stands for the sea. The
Bonaireans have always been people
with great courage. In war time they
sailed to maintain the transport of
oil from Venezuela. Of these sailors
roughly 80 percent died because of
attacking submarines. The blue part is
a memorial to the brave Bonairean.
The 'ring' on the flag represents a
compass. Bonaireans are after all good
sailors and fishermen. It contains four
equilateral triangles. These represent
equality for all people from the north,
east, south and west. Wherever
one came on the island, they were
considered equal.
The red six-pointed star represents
the six original townships of Bonaire,
Playa, Nikiboko, Tera Kora, Antriol,
Nort Saliña and Rincon. The red color
of the star stands for the blood, the
survival power of the Bonairean.
A little piece of the historic pie
Bonaire's culture is based largely on slavery
In 1499 the Spaniards, lead by captain Amerigo Vespucci where the first
Europeans to discover Bonaire. The residing (native Venezuelan) Caquetío
indians were captured in 1515 by the Spaniards and deported to the island
of Hispaniola, which we now know as Haiti and the Dominican Republic, to
work in the copper mines. In 1527, the Spaniards came back from Hispaniola
to Bonaire and then founded the first settlement on Bonaire: Rincon. Rincon's
location was chosen because it is in a fertile valley and has constantly blowing
trade winds. It was out of the eye of passing (pirate)ships and beyond the
reach of their raids.
In 1636 the Dutch "West India Company" took claim over Bonaire. The Dutch
exploited Bonaire mainly for its salt and paint timber. Brasil Wood (Palu di
Brasil) was foraged to be used as red pigment for paint. When the Dutch
needed more labor, they imported slaves from Africa, who then had to settle
in Rincon. The slaves worked on plantations in the area of Rincon and on salt
pans on the opposite side of the island. Because the walk from Rincon to
the salt pans took about 10 hours, the slaves build themselves small huts to
sleep in. The slaves worked at the salt pans and stayed in their huts during the
week. On Saturday’s they were allowed to go back to their homes and families
in Rincon. In 1850, these huts were replaced by little stone houses. These are
still standing along the salt pans and now form the popular touristic attraction
of the White- and Red Slave Huts.
The painting "Zoutwinning bij het pekelmeer Bonaire" by Cyriel
11
Bonaire's common goods.
You see them all over the island: Divers using the convenience of pickup trucks
to get their diving equipment to their favorite diving spots. Groups of people
use them for touring around the island together. Pickup trucks are among
the most common goods on Bonaire. They are convenient for watersports,
transport of goods and of course groups of people. Caribe car rental offers you
excellent trucks and service, but that's not all. For those who don't dive, there
are also medium and small sized economic cars available to tour the island
with.
How about exploring the island with the wind in your hair
Scooters Bonaire offers a wide range on two wheels. From casual bicycles to a
selection of mountain bikes, electrical bicycles and several types of convenient
scooters. Many people think of a bicycle as a means to an end, but too many
do not realize the fine side of it Touring along the shorelines and through the
beautiful nature of Bonaire can be very relaxing instead of tiring.
Aside from some amazing routes that you can explore by scooter or bicycle,
there is also the aspect of convenient transportation. Especially when staying
or living in downtown locations, all you need is only a few minutes away and
by using a scooter or a bicycle, you easily avoid common parking difficulties.
Eco Friendly and easy
Aside from normal or all-terrain bicycles, you can also choose for an electrical
bicycle. You can ride across the island and when you need a little push to go
uphill or to counter a bit of wind, you just turn on the quiet electrical engine.
This is a very eco friendly solution. Using these, you can easily explore Bonaire
without overexerting yourself. There are many beautiful bicycle trails and
natural areas to explore. Free charging stations for these bicycles can be found
at Sorobon, Rincon and the Wilhelmina square in Kralendijk.
The "Tourist Tree"
Bursera Simaruba is a tree species,
native to Central- and South America.
It is more commonly known as Brasilwood (Palu di Brasil)
When the Spanish discovered Bonaire,
they saw so many of these trees that
they sometimes called the island
"Brasilwood Island".
This is the tree that was almost
eradicated when the Dutch colonists
exported the wood of these trees to
Holland to extract a red dye from the
trunk of the trees.
Nowadays, with a humurous touch,
we commonly refer to the tree as the
"Tourist Tree" because the tree's bark
is red and peels off like the skin of
sunburnt tourists.
Several of these trees can be found on
Bonaire along the main road between
Rincon and Kralendijk.
Get out there! Experience the wide open nature of this tropical paradise,
Bonaire is beautiful and great to explore.
13
A rich and diverse Heritage
Influences from around the world have been combined
on Bonaire in a truly unique mixture, testifying to how
successfully the people have been able to integrate their
different ethnic Picture backgrounds. From Africa come the
great festival dances of the Simadan and the Bari, with their
polyphonic musicality and a whole range of percussive
instruments.
Musicians in Bonaire proved unusually resourceful in
their ability to create new instruments from the discarded
fragments of broken tools. A small percussive instrument
known as the Chapi is made from the metal end of a
hack and is struck with a small metal bar. The blade of a
plough serves as a base for the Agan. These, along with
the cowhorn and the conch, form some of the traditional
musical instruments of Bonaire.
Some of the typical foods of Bonaire include Funchi and
Repa (pancakes made of Sorghum meal). These are often
served with goat stew and Boontji Kunuku (local beans) or
Aros moro (a spiced rice and beans mix). All of these dishes
are still an essential part of the Bonairean diet, although the
availability of sorghummeal and boontji kunuku depends
on the rainy season.
Taste of Bonaire
These and more are among the cultural influences that
you can taste and experience during the popular "Taste
of Bonaire" events, organized by the Tourism Corporation
Bonaire. Aside from local and international food, you can
meet creative minds that produced souvenirs from true
local products, such as goat skin bags, driftwood art, aloe
vera products, sea salt and more. These tasty events are
accompanied by musical and cultural presentations by local
groups and speeches of local VIPs.
Papiamentu
There are four languages spoken on Bonaire. Dutch is the official one used in
government and legal phrases, Papiamentu is used in daily life and is widely
accepted as the main language on the streets. Most people also speak some
English and Spanish.
Papiamentu is a Creole language indigenous to the former Dutch Antilles,
particularly Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba. The Portuguese colonization
prompted the evolution of this new language, containing elements of African
language structures and Portuguese vocabulary that allowed the people to
communicate with each other. With the slave trade, the language grew and
spread among the general population.
People visiting Bonaire often try to learn a few Papiamentu words, leading to
fun conversations with the friendly locals..
Mangazina di Rei
On the way to Rincon, you'll find the "Storehouse of the King", a culture park
and learning centre. At the Mangazina di Rei, You tour the grounds with a well
informed guide who explains and demonstrates many historical tasks, such as
how to make a cactus fence, which you can see all around the island, and enjoy
local music workshops, using traditional instruments.
At Mangazina di Rei you can learn about the evolution of local architecture,
which contains African, Spanish and Dutch elements. Some more information
about this you can also find in the LIVE section of this magazine.
Sorghum and the Pilon
The main food product for the slaves
to live from was Sorghum, this is a kind
of mais that was grown and harvested
a lot in the times of slavery.
Large masses of the Sorghum were
stored in the mangazina di Rei
(Storehouse of the Government). The
slaves of the government were given
their food rations from the storage at
this Mangazina. They were handed
their amounts of Sorghum in "Kana's",
little square wooden boxes that
measure about 750 grams of Sorghum.
As their weekly rations, every Saturday
the male slaves were given 6 of these
Kana's and the female slaves received
only 5.
The Pilon was a wooden mortar tool to
stump the Sorghum. It is very massive
and made from the trunk of a cactus.
On the last Saturday of the month there is a monthly Cultural Market, which
is well worth the visit. You can see different activities of old island life such
as baking bread in wood-fired ovens, locally grown foods, and taste the local
cuisine as well. This is a great way to really experience Bonaire as it was.
15
Kaya Grandi 29 - Tel: (+599) 717 5107 - www.benetton.com
After the war came tourism...
During the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II, Bonaire was a protectorate of Britain and the United
States. The American army built the Flamingo Airport as an air force base. Many Dutch and German citizens were interned
in a camp on Bonaire for the duration of the war. After the war, the barracks of the internment camp were rebuild into
stone apartments and the whole camp was transformed into the first commercial vacation resort on Bonaire: Hotel Zeebad.
Tourism was born and life on Bonaire would never be the same again.
and Kralendijk became a lively town centre
Kralendijk now offers a lively and colorful Caribbean town centre. Year round you can stroll the streets enjoying the
Caribbean architecture while shopping in the ever expanding range of clothing, souvenirs and jewelry in the main street
(Kaya Grandi) and the area around it. Dress yourself in bright colors as the people of the Caribbean do. Enjoy waterfront
cocktails, lunches and the general hospitality. From October till April there are massive cruise ships docking along the
boulevard and they release a flow of curious and joyful people into the town centre. Markets are filled with island-made
products and local snacks are sold while cultural performances are played on the Wilhelmina square main stage. Soak up
the cultural influences and taste the samples of locally produced liquors. There is and activity market, offering all kinds of
island tours and adventurous activities. Whoever thinks that Bonaire sleeps aside of diving is wrong. Kralendijk is alive, more
than ever!
Photo courtesy Rocargo, made by Fish-Eye Photo
17
Rincon, a hidden gem
Northeast of Kralendijk, sheltered by the hills, lies a precious hidden gem: Rincon. This small village is an oasis of peace in
the midst of these fast and hectic times. The atmosphere is relaxed and the streets are still quiet. Many of the people of
Rincon will smile and wave at you as you pass by and if you are looking to find a delicious taste of true local culture, Rincon
is the place to be. Bonaire's local foods often offer plantains, Funchi (polenta), goat and salted fish or stews... Great stews.
If you are a bit more on the culinary adventurous side, you can try out the surprisingly delicious Iguana soup. Bonaire's
traditional food offers great and strong flavours and Rincon is the epicenter of laid-back local eateries on this beautiful but
swiftly modernizing Caribbean island. When in Rincon check out these for example:
Verona: One of the oldest Sneks (local slang for bar/restaurant) in town and alive with locals playing dominoes all day long.
Even though this place is not well known among tourists, it is a great place to sit back and enjoy a drink and a chat with the
locals. The place looks old and cute and offers friendliness and ice cold drinks, just the way the locals love it.
Le-Ma-Se: If you're driving through Rincon, make a stop at Le-Ma-Se. This is a little road side bistro close to the edge of
town on your way back to Kralendijk. Owner and host Norman is a one man talk show offering great homemade
shakes, meat-filled pastries and a wonderful squash soup.
Cadushy Distillery: Another stop you can't miss on your cultural and fun journey through Rincon is the Cadushy Distillery
that offers a variety of home-made liquors, including the renowned Cadushy cactus liquor. Here you can taste,
lounge, chat and learn about Rincon and with Eric and Petri around, you'll ejoy the great and fun stories they can
tell about Rincon life.
Posada Para Mira: A place with a rustic setting that you'll love as soon asyou walk in the door. The restaurant is completely
open with a palm thatch roof and wooden picnic tables and it offers a beautiful view of Rincon and its surrounding
The Cadushy Distillery is easy to find. From any direction you
enter Rincon, you will be guided by clear Cadushy signs.
Open every Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 10 am till 5 pm.
No entrance fee... Just bring your good mood!
Tel: 786 8769 or 788 2952 e-mail: [email protected]
nature without any cruise boats or tall buildings in view. A wonderful breeze
comes through and you can forget all about the business of life as you lounge
with a cold beer.
The four sides of Rincon
After the abolition of slavery on July 1st of 1863, the former slaves stayed in
Rincon. They developped their culture and to this date many of the current
residents of Rincon are descendants of those slaves. The small town is full of
great history and tales of ruling families and the influence of religion on Rincon
life. In history, Rincon locals have loosely divided themselves geographically
based on their families interests and backgrounds as children would often
build their new houses close to their parent's homes. Although they are now
scattered around town, the North of town had a lot of kunukus (local farms),
whereas the South of town had a stronger influence of the church. The East
of Rincon was filled with musicians, while the West developed their cultural
influence through fishermen. Nowadays Rincon has become a thriving blend of
all but the Rinconero(a)s can still tell you story after story about the old times
and their ruling families. All you have to do is start the conversation with a
polite "Bon dia, kon ta bai?" (Good morning, how are you?).
In Rincon, you can still see many houses of traditional architecture in their
classic form. Some of the builders defined their family's style with decorative
markings on the roof peaks and roof edging of their houses. Although some of
these old houses are ruined by the wear of time, there are many that remain in
good condition. Because of this, the streets of Rincon are alive with a colorful
and typical Caribbean atmosphere.
Bonaire Heritage Foundation
Walk around town, see the traditional building styles and discover the true
beauty of Rincon. A great way to learn more about what you see, is to take
a historic tour through town with the Bonaire Heritage Foundation. This will
guide you past all the landmarks and explain in a clear and fun way about the
changes that Rincon has seen through time. On these tours you learn about
Rincon history, the cultural heritage and some fun stories. The tour is in English
and begins (and ends) at the Bonaire Heritage Center in the Plasa Cadushy,
located at The Cadushy Distillery. It's easy to find as from any direction you
enter Rincon, you will be guided by clear Cadushy signs along the streets.
Checking Bentana
Along the road from Kralendijk to
Rincon, did you ever notice the
stone steps that lead up a boulder
on the side of the road? These steps
are actually related to the Bentana
Lighthouse located in Washington
Slagbaai National Park in the far north
end of the island.
Originally the lighthouse lamps worked
on feroline, a combustible fuel. Two
men, the lighthouse keepers, lived
there to manually turn the lamps on
and off. After the change to propane
gas and an automated ignition system
the light house keepers were no longer
needed and moved to Rincon. From
Rincon, it was impossible to see if the
light was working without a journey
into the park. To solve this problem, the
steps were built next to this massive
boulder to provide easy access to the
highest point so the lighthouse keeper
could see the glow of the lights on the
horizon.
The original Bentana Lighthouse was
destroyed in 1954 by the tropical storm
"Jeanette." The current lighthouse
consists of three stages while the
original had four.
- Reservations are required for the guided tour. Call the Cadushy Distillery at
786-8769 or mail: [email protected].
19
Products of Bonaire
When looking for souvenirs, decorations or nice presents to bring home after your visit to Bonaire, try some of the true local
products of Bonaire, such as driftwood artwork, Bonaire sea salt, Aloe Vera products, Goat cheese, skin bags, locally distilled
liquors and much more. There are creative minds on Bonaire who take what nature gives them and shape it into that perfect
item that could really make your or your friend's day. We present you with a few:
GN Art
Germaine Nijdam and Inge van der Linden have their creative Art workshop in Republiek. Whether
you are visiting or living on the island, you are warmly invited to visit the workshop/studio at the house with
the sun. See their local art, driftwood art, authentic souvenirs and customized gifts. When driving up the hill,
look for the driftwood painted signs, leading the way. Open Monday till Saturday 8am-12.30pm.
Onlima Aloe Onima Aloe Vera offers a range of 100% organic Aloe Vera products based on pure Aloe Vera gel from Bonaire,
famous for its moisturizing and soothing properties. The Onima Aloe Vera product range includes gel and creams for
daily use as well as special care products to give your body the extra attention it needs. Because Onima Aloe Vera only
uses 100% pure organic ingredients, you receive the very best of nature; true liquid gold from the Caribbean!.
La Placita Jump into the small world of La Placita, a tastefully designed wellness place in center of town! La
Placita is the house of Mr. Saltman and all his Bonaire Sea Salt products for food and bath & body! Manicure,
pedicure or massage, wellness is the key of La Placita. Relax with the Artista coffee or let the Garra Rufa fish
‘soften’ your feet! La Placita has it all……..’what would life be without salt’, and Mr. Saltman?
TekibonIn the heart of the cactus lives the Spirit of Bonaire. This is what flavors the liquor of Tekibon. You
can enjoy the different kinds of Tekibon pure but it also makes an ideal partner for many cocktails. Try a
Tekibon Margherita: Take equal amounts of Tekibon, Cointreau and freshly squeezed lime juice. Shake these
with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a glass with a salted rim. Sit back and enjoy Bonaire.
GN ART
local art, driftwood art and more...
(+599) 717 2203 / 786 1714
www.gnartbonaire.com
ONIMA ALOE
Care products based on pure Aloe Vera gel
(+599) 780 9911 / 780 0166
www.onima-aloe.info
La Placita
Welness based on Bonaire sea salt
(+599) 717 6886
www.laplacitabonaire.com
TEKIBON
Original cactus based liquors
(+599) 786 2686
www.spiritofbonaire.com
21
Photo by BonPhoto
Enjoy Bonaire's National Marine Park
Bonaire offers a lot of possible activities, many of them in
or on top of the beautiful turquiose waters surrounding the
island. When entering the water, please keep in mind that you
are entering a protected marine reserve, called the Bonaire
National Marine Park.
Bonaire's reefs are home to 57 species of soft and stony coral
and more than 350 recorded fish species. Our reefs provide
a safe refuge for 111 endangered species and have been
maintained and conserved for over 40 years.
The Marine Park offers a total of 89 snorkel- and dive sites
along the main island's shoreline and Klein Bonaire. From the
shore, these are marked with names on yellow stones.
Most island maps show the locations and names of these
sites so make sure you get one of those. In most dive- and
activity centers you can find STINAPA's own Bonaire National
Marine Park brochure, which includes a map and important
and fun facts about the Marine Park, such as the rules and
regulations. Also check out their website: www.stinapa.org
Help STINAPA help the reefs
STINAPA Bonaire is a non-governmental foundation that
manages the protection of the Bonaire National Marine Park
All users of the Bonaire National Marine Park pay a Nature
Fee as admission. For divers, this fee is $25 and for swimmers,
snorkelers and other topside watersporters, the fee is $10.
This fee covers admission to the Marine Park for one calendar
year and, in case of the Diver's fee, also admission to the
Washington Slagbaai National Park in the north of the island,
when shown together with a picture ID. Children under 12
and residents of Bonaire don't have to pay the non-divers
$10 Nature Fee. They do have to pay the tag for diving.
All users of the Bonaire National Marine Park are required
by law to purchase the STINAPA Marine Park tag. This tag is
your access pass for all water activities, such as:
•Swimming
•Snorkeling
•
Scuba diving
•Wakeboarding
•Kiteboarding
•
Windsurfing
•Sailing
•Paddleboarding
Where to get your Marine Park tag
The Marine Park tag can be purchased at
any dive shop and watersport operator.
By paying for the tag you provide the
funds to manage the parks and guarantee
our lasting success in nature protection
and conservation.
23
VIP Diving Introduces...
THE DIVE BUTLER
DIVE LIKE A VIP
The Dive Butler - Taking Service to a new level
Bas Noij and Michiel Rumpff started VIP Diving 5 years ago with a clear vision in mind. They wanted to show their dive guests
the 'real Bonaire'. Off the beaten track and in small intimate groups. The formula immediately turned out to be a success. A
steady growth of the business has resulted in an enthusiastic and dedicated team of Dive Butlers who are ready and eager to
serve you. All long term Bonaire residents who really know the island both under water and above and will gladly share their
knowledge with you. Having your own Dive Butler does not mean that they will literally follow you around in a suit and white
gloves (although they probably would if it would make you happy). It means that they will help you set up anything you want,
to create your perfect vacation and make you feel like a movie star.
Valet Diving
It is now even possible to organize all your vacation needs in a 'one stop shopping' concept. VIP Diving works directly with the
owners of carefully selected accommodations ranging from studio apartments to the most luxurious oceanfront villa's you can
dream of. Add to that the best rental vehicles and the famous VIP Diving packages and your movie star vacation is a fact. But
they can take it even further! Add tank delivery and Marine Park orientation right at your villa. Throw in a private chef to cook
delicious dinners for you. Perhaps even massages right next to your own luxurious pool or in your air conditioned bed room.
You name it and your Dive Butler will take care of it!
Number one activity on Tripadvisor
From day one 100% customer satisfaction was the goal at VIP Diving and this has resulted in winning the Tripadvisor Certificate
of Excellence award four years in a row and the number one spot on the list of the best things to do while you're on Bonaire.
James or Indiana Jones?
Your Dive Butler can be a 'James' and make your dives so easy that even your grandmother would
be able to do it. But he can also be an 'Indiana Jones' and show you the coolest and most amazing
adventures you could imagine. Diving the rough East Coast or other challenging remote sites? One
of their world famous fluorescent UV night dives? Going on a lionfish hunting safari? VIP Diving will
make it an unforgettable experience.
You are the VIP
Smaller groups, More personal attention, Better diving!
25
Discover Bonaire’s reefs and share your underwater adventures at home
The underwater world is Bonaire’s biggest draw and a visit to its famous reef systems should not be missed while on the
island. Especially the shallow reefs at Klein Bonaire are excellent for snorkeling. Enjoy this colorful world on a snorkel trip
with the Seacow and you could be swimming with sea turtles and much more in the most beautiful surroundings you can
imagine. Henk and Gea offer excellent snorkeling trips with snacks and drinks, accompanied by fun stories and everlasting
smiles. Your experience will be captured by a professional photographer from BonPhoto and their beautiful underwater
images will be available on board. Visit the BonPhoto shop on the main road next to Captain Don's Habitat dive resort and
you'll be amazed by their still photography and enchanting videos compilations. You can arrange a private photographer to
capture any Bonaire adventures on photo or video, allowing you to share them with friends and familiy after your visit to the
island. Flow adds some extra adventure to your underwater moments. Their amazing Fluorescent Night dives and -snorkels
allow you to see the reefs unlike ever before. Flow also offers the DiveGlide, a new and unique way of moving through water
with speed and range that allows you to "fly" along Bonaire's gorgeous reefs.
Sailing and snorkeling
On top of the water there is more to enjoy. Sailing the beautiful Caribbean water with a cool drink in your hands, spotting
dolphins and enjoying the famous Caribbean sunsets. That doesn't sound like a bad way to spend your day, does it? There
are several excellent sailing trips to choose from: If you prefer laid back cruising with excellent grilled food and ocassionally
live music, join the Compass. With the friendly services of captain (and Chef) Wim and his crew, you are set for a perfect
time out on the turquiose water. Try the Dinner at sea, where you are served a complete and tasty dinner buffet on board.
Sail, Snorkel and enjoy the great Caribbean sunsets.
Drive your own boat or go wakeboarding
For those who prefer a little more action on the water, you can rent a boat at Bluebay Rentals. Be your own captain and
cruise along the shoreline and Klein Bonaire. You can rent a boat and go wakeboarding or waterskiing. You can also get
on banana rides or have a nice private tour with captain so all you have to do is relax and enjoy. If you wish to learn
wakeboarding, Bluebay rentals offers a captain that will explain you how to stand up and keep your balance. There is more
than enough talent there, as Bluebay also hosts the Bluebay Wakeboarding Club of Bonaire so if you are an experienced
boarder and you still wish to learn a bit more or just go out and have some fun, Bluebay rentals is your next stop.
Pure Sailing
If you enjoy trips with the emphasis on sailing, your choice would be the luxurious Bowalie. With captain Walter and host
Liezeth you are set for sailing, real unspoiled sailing. Tilting the fast Bowalie under the high winds and cutting smoothly
through the waves under the bright sun, you can feel like you're competing in a Caribbean sailing regatta. If you want to,
you can take the helm and test your own sailing talents on Bonaire's
turquiose waters. Walter and Liezeth take smaller groups on the Bowalie and let you enjoy pure
sailing as it should be. Along the trips there is a break where you can snorkel the beautiful reefs
of Bonaire or lounge on the wide open deck with a cool drink in your hand and the breeze in
your hair.
COMPASS
Bonaire's breathtaking sunsets
Caribbean sunsets never cease to amaze the viewer's eye. While sailing
over the calm Caribbean sea, you can enjoy some of the most spectacular
sunsets in the world with your friends or family. If you're lucky you may
even witness a Green Flash.
An exotic adventure awaits you on a ship as rare as the beautiful coral
reefs over which she sails....
Come sailing with your friends and family to enjoy a “Green Flash” sunset
sail and our famous “Samur Smash” rum punch.
If you make a reservation for a group of minimum 10 adults, you are
participating for free.
29
Landside Activities
Are you the adventurous type? Do you love the scent of nature? Dare to explore Bonaire's outback? To many, vacation equals
beaches, palm trees, snorkeling, and cocktails. Is there something missing in this picture? We like to think so.
You could be exploring the outdoor scenery or paddling in a kayak, surrounded by the dense bush of Mangroves or even visit
exciting caves. Bonaire offers many options for outdoor adventures. Experienced guides will lead you through their favorite
surroundings/areas on the island.
• When it comes to discovering the beautiful nature of Bonaire, Outdoor Bonaire is a great partner to tag along with. Owner
and experienced guide Hans will take you into caves and on outdoor hiking or climbing tours as well as mangrove kayaking.
His expertise and love for nature will add a lot of knowledge and fun to your outdoor discovery trip.
• Explore the mangrove woods by kayak and be amazed by the abundance of color under the waterline when you snorkel
through a tunnel where you can see the mangrove roots, covered with beautiful sponges, while curious fish peer out
to see who swims through their protected habitat. Mangrove Info Center offers fun tours with explanations about the
mangroves and their inhabitants.
• You could enjoy the wide open nature views on horseback and even go swimming with your horse in a beautiful eastside
bay with the only official horseback riding ranch on Bonaire. Rancho Washikemba offers beautiful horses that are excellently
trained by professionals to offer you a comfortable and gorgeous ride through the wide open east side nature of Bonaire.
• Flow takes their services beyond their tours, offering the possibility to make your accommodation the starting point for
a exclusive and customized island adventure. No matter what activity you are interested in, Flow can arrange it for you.
Caving, Hiking, Fluorescent snorkeling or diving, Freediving, DiveGlide, Private scuba services, Mountainbiking, educational
island & historical tours and even relaxing yoga sessions. Come join us and find your Flow.
If you have taken a tour with these trusted and experienced people, please leave them a nice review on Tripadvisor and Follow
their Facebook pages for news items and photos. These are valuable marketing tools for businesses in tourism.
OUTDOOR BONAIRE
Cavetours, hiking, climbing, biking,
mangrove kayaking, birdwatching
(+599) 785 6272
www.outdoorbonaire.com
MANGROVE INFO CENTER
Mangrove kayaking, electric boat
(+599) 780 5353
www.mangrovecenter.com
RANCHO WASHIKEMBA
Horseback riding lessons and tours
(+599) 788 8668 / 786 7321
www.rancho-washikemba.com
FLOW
Cavetours, Flourescent snorkeling/
diving, biking, historic tours
(+599) 788 4636
www.flowbonaire.com 31
25 Years of Jibe City & Hangout Beach Bar
It was back in 1989 when Ernst van Vliet decided to share his favorite windsurfing
spot as a hangout for the world to join. The dream started right there on the beach,
with his trusted station wagon and his little dog on his side. Now, 25 years later,
Jibe City is a true windsurfing Mecca to many of the biggest names in the world of
windsurfing. At Jibe City you can lay back on comfortable lounge beds or cabanas
and watch the world champions of freestyle windsurfing practice their tricks while
you enjoy a healthy lunch or the best Sangria on Bonaire.
The weekend of 6,7 & 8 June is the main event of the celebrations, filled with fun
events and performances. The days after that weekend, Bonaire sets the stage for
the 2014 PWA Freestyle Windsurfing World Championships. Bonaire and Jibe City
really form the place to be when it comes to relaxing on the beach in the epicenter
of freestyle windsurfing action.
Learn from the Pro's
At Jibe City you can learn windsurfing from some of the best instructors you can
imagine.... Some of the best? If you are lucky, one of the residing World Champions
may actually be the one teaching you in the perfectly shallow waters of Lac Bay.
Kids Clinics
Jibe City offers windsurfing clinics
for kids. The kids windsurf clinics are
a fun way to get an introduction to
windsurfing for kids and teenagers
between the age of 7-17 years old.
These clinics consist of 3 mornings
and include: every day a three hours
lesson by one of our professional
instructors, equipment, a Jibe City
rash guard. the necessary Stinapa
Nature Fee and a cozy lunch at the
Hang Out Bar.
Kids clinic dates:
July
8 - 10,
July
15 - 17
July
22 - 24
July
29 - 31 for only
Aug
5-7
@200,Aug
12 - 14
Oct
14 - 16
Join
ABK Clinics
We are pleased that ABK has chosen to run their windsurfing clinics here at Lac
Bay. They have been operating for over 20 years and their clinics range from
harness to jibes to freestyle and their delighted customers lay testament to the
standard of tuition. Whether you've never windsurfed or you're ready to learn to
loop, the ABK School will put you on your way to success in a fun, friendly, and
unintimidating environment.
BBQ Night and Full Moon Party at The Hangout Beach Bar
Every Thursday evening, the Hangout Beach Bar hosts the famous Table BBQ Night
that has grown into a popular event. You can enjoy your own private mini BBQ on
your own table and cook your own great dinner on the beach. Be your own Chef,
we offer a mouthwatering selection of meats, fish, salads, roast potato, breads
and sauces. Reservations are required: 717-5064. Check the Hangout Beach Bar
Facebook page to stay up to date with the many events and fun specials. The
Hangout also hosts the monthly Full Moon Party you don't want to miss.
The Shop
You will find everything you need to go out on the water or just look good. We
offer a wide variety of board-walk shorts, sandals, rash guards. Shoes and gloves,
harnesses, sunglasses, swimwear, backpacks and underwear for men, woman
and kids. Looking for Jibe City items? Check out our variety of T-shirts, caps, rash
guards and other funny Jibe City souvenirs.
33
JUNE 8-12th - PWA World Championships
Freestyle Windsurfing BONAIRE
After three years of Absence Bonaire finally sets
the stage again for an event displaying the top
of the world's Freestyle Frenzy. The world's best
windsurfers will compete for the title of World
Champion in mindblowing Freestyle Windsurfing.
LOCAL HEROES: TEAM BONAIRE
Our heroes will represent Bonaire in their home-field stage. Our heroes are the
world renowned freestyle-pros that we constantly see at Sorobon Beach, because
this is where they live: Kiri Thode, Tonky-, Choco- and Taty Frans, Björn Saragoza,
Ceasar Finies, Youp Schmit, Amado Vrieswijk and Maxime van Gent!
Team Bonaire, we cheer for you and wish you best of luck and hope to see you fill up
the trophy stage in these Freestyle World Championships. FORSA BONEIRU!!!
All Jibe City and windsurfing photographs by Marcus Seidel
FOTO TEAM BONAIRE
OTHER MAIN EVENTS 2014
WORLDCUP SOCCER BRASIL 2014
From June 12th till July 13th, a month of football mayhem.
Where will you watch the games? With your feet in the sand
at The Beach Hut or Jibe City? Or downtown with a square full
of people at El Mundo? All over Bonaire there will be festivities
surrounding the exciting matches. Will Brasil make the final or
will Spain and Holland go for a repeat match? Will Germany
finally take the title? Be sure to cheer for your country's stars at
one of the many soccer events.
10TH BONAIRE HEINEKEN JAZZ FESTIVAL
On August 1-3rd, the 10th annual Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival
will take place, putting Bonaire on the international calendar of
live music superstars. The programmed line-up:
Friday: Charles Brouwer Band (Aruba), DJ Maestro (Nederland)
& Oletta adams (US)
Saturday: Anne Marie Kors (Bonaire), Matt Bianco (UK) &
Frank Reyes (Dominican Republic)
Sunday: Jamfest (Bonaire) & The Original Wailers (Jamaica)
DIA DI BONEIRU
On September 6th get ready for the island to celebrate the
"national" day of Bonaire.
Events include an impressive motorcycle parade, BBQ's along
the boulevard and downtown and many cultural and musical
performances, accompanied by celebration speeches by Bonaire
officials. Local DJs will be playing their festive beats on a diversity
of stages and the great tastes of Krioyo recipes will be for sale on
every street corner.
47TH BONAIRE SAILING REGATTA
On October 5-11th, the 47th Annual Bonaire Sailing Regatta takes
place again. Sailing boats from all over the world compete in a
week-long series of races, accompanied by cultural and musical
events all along the waterfront boulevard of Kralendijk. On the
waters our local sailing heroes fight a sportive but fierce battle
with their International competitors. We cheer for our heroes!
35
Tuna at Sonia Home by Lorenzo Mittiga
Local recipe: Keshi Yena
Caribbean dining, more than cocktails and fish
Frugality was the keynote of island live in
earlier times, when provisions had to last
between the scarce visits of sailing ships.
In this traditional recipe the shell of a
scooped Edam (the thin rind remaining
after a family had consumed the four
pounds of cheese) is filled with chicken,
fish or beef and baked in an oven.
1 lb. Dutch Gouda (sliced)
1 large Onion
4 tablespoons Melted Butter
2 cups Cooked Chicken, Beef or Fish
1 large Tomato (peeled, chopped)
2 Dill Pickles (minced)
1 large Green Pepper (chopped)
8 large Green Stuffed Olives (sliced)
1½ tablespoon Minced Garlic
¼ cup Golden Raisins
1 tablespoon Prepared Mustard
½ cup Ketchup
½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 cup Chopped Cashew Nut
Caribbean food is a complex blend of indigenous, African, and colonial
influences. The cuisine of Bonaire, like that of many islands in the Caribbean,
brings together the myriad influences of the many cultures and people who
made up its history.
Butter a deep glass baking pan and lay 2/3
of the sliced gouda on the bottom. Melt
the butter in a skillet, add onions and fry
until golden brown. Add tomato, pickles,
green pepper, olives, capers, garlic, raisins,
mustard. Ketchup, thyme, Worcestershire
sauce and chopped cashew nuts. Mix this
with your cooked chicken, fish or beef and
spread this mixture on top of the sliced
gouda. Cover with the remaining gouda.
Put into a large baking pan and fill with
water about half way up the sides of the
Keshi Yena pan. Bake in preheated 350°
degree oven for about 30 minutes.
In 2013, Bonaire participated in the Taste of the Caribbean. Under the
watchful eye of The Bonaire Culinary Foundation, the young local talents of
the Bonaire Culinary team trained and performed great in the Miami based
cooking competition. A total of 8 prizes were won and we wish them the best
of luck and success in their next participation.
Dig into fresh seafood and prime cuts of meat while taking in a mesmerizing
view of the Caribbean Sea. As Bonaire has always been a fishermen's island,
there is never a shortage of the most tasty Caribbean fresh fish. In these
pages we'll offer you a presentation of some of the finest restaurants on
Bonaire.
Although Bonaire's many cultures brought unusual diversity to its cuisine,
the island's limited capacities for agricultural production encouraged cooks
through history to adapt their recipes to the particular range of ingredients
available here. Due to sporadic imports from abroad, creative residents
developped a wide range of dishes, from soups and stews to sweets and
desserts, relying on easily preserved ingredients. Some of the local recipes
are even based on the unique bounty of Bonaire's nature, such as cactus and
iguana.
The Bonaire Culinary Team in training - 2013
37
39
IT RAINS FISHES
It Rains Fishes
This completely restyled restaurant
offers top of the line dining experiences
on the waterfront of our truly gorgeous
Caribbean island in the Dutch Caribbean.
Fresh fish market
Visit our small Fresh Fish Market inside
the historical building, where you can
see your fresh fish and seafood just
before it is served on your plate. If you
want to take some fresh fish or seafood
home top cook yourself, or if you wish to
get some special fish- or cooking related
products, please check out the Fish
market.. Opening hours: 9am-11pm,
Monday-Saturday
IT RAINS FISHES
The building's history
Many guests visit our restaurant and enjoy its culinary offerings, outstanding
service and appreciate its architecture, unaware of the history of the actual
building. As the building is more than 100 years old, allow us to enlighten
you with a brief historical account of the "Kas di Pa Kachi Craane and Ma
Seshi Craane-Graavenhorst".
The architechtural style of the restaurant is what Frans Booi calls "Kas di
Kaha" (Box Model). The structure consists of three rooves: a hipped roof
with dormers around it. The peaks of the roofs are usually decorated with
statues. These houses were built by merchants, owners of plantations and
sailing vessels or seamen at the end of the 19th century, beginning of the
20th century.
Kachi Craane¹s (1879-1974) was a seaman on a schooner, he built more than
80 boats and tall ships, many in the yard of this house under the tamarind
tree with the help of Johanse "Jonchi Pushi" Craane. The building bearing
Kachi's name was first owned by the Debrot family and this is where the
poet, politician, professor and writer Nicholaas "Cola" Debrot (1902 - 1981)
was born. Cola Debrot was the first Antillean to become the Head of State
of the Netherlands Antilles.
More of the building's history can be found on our website. We hope you
will enjoy your dinner with us!
It Rains Fishes opening hours:
Open 6 days a week. Closed on Sundays
Monday-Friday we serve:
Breakfast 7:30am - 11am
Lunch 10:30am - 3pm
Dinner 5pm - 11pm
Bar open from 5pm till late
Contact us:
(+599) 717 8780 / 717 2205
[email protected]
www.itrainsfishesbonaire.com
35
41
Traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist, this is Sonia Home. A modern and
cosy atmosphere, combined with friendly service. A genuine Italian experience in
Bonaire.
Tasty lunch before or after diving, a quick bite or a family reunion, dinner with
friends, a birthday party and even weddings, Sonia Home is the perfect place for
any moment of your life.
Sonia Home is also delighted to announce "La Dispensa di Sonia", a fine selection
of products imported from Italy and for sale at Sonia's.
Pasta, Italian rice, Olive oil, Wine, Flours, Taggiasche olives, Dry fruits and much
more.
We sincerely hope you will enjoy your meal with us.
Sonia Home opening hours:
Monday to Saturday
Lunch: 12-2pm
Happy Hour: 5-6pm
Dinner: 6-10pm
Make your reservation at:
Kaya Gobernador Debrot
Bonaire District Plaza 20
(+599) 717 1758
[email protected]
www.soniahomebonaire.com
43
SPICE BEACH CLUB
46
On the Caribbean coast, just outside of town, the beach, the pool, the beach
bar and the restaurant form: Spice Beach Club! A contemporary, yet relaxed
environment where you can wind down and throughout the whole day
enjoy a nice cup of coffee or cappuccino, a fresh smoothie, a cold beer, soda,
cocktail or delicious mixed drink.
On a comfortable beach chair or a lounge bed you can enjoy a lazy day on
the beach. Bathrooms and showers are available. Are you interested in
snorkeling or diving? Visit the dive shop and enjoy the water. Would you
like to try other fun watersports like tuberiding, Wakeboarding and banana
rides? At Spice Beach Club everything is possible, there is even a Spa at Spice
Beach Club.
We serve anything from eggs at breakfast, cold- and warm sandwiches
and salads at lunch to mouthwatering entrees and salads at dinner. Our
bartenders create some of the finest cocktails for you to enjoy and you
should try our "In Betweens" menu with a variety of small dishes with wich
you can compose your own dinner.
Live Music and Events
In the weekends Spice Beach Club offers the popular Friday evening Chill
& Grill where you can enjoy great BBQ food accompanied by the musical
talents of a local or international DJ or live band. On Saturdays and Sundays
we often host performances of local and international Musicians and DJs on
our main stage on the beach.
We even offer the possibility to organize your own private party on the beach
or the upper terrace with amazing view over the Caribbean Sea, above the
oceanfront restaurant. Spice Beach Club is an excellent location for your
wedding celebration.
Spice Beach Club Opening Hours:
7am - 10am for breakfast service
11am - 5pm for lunch service
6pm - 10pm for dinner service
Beach Bar open Daily from 9am - 11pm
Happy Hours: Friday-Sunday 6 - 7pm
Contact us:
(+599) 717 8060
[email protected]
www.spicebonaire.com
45
Eddy's Bar & Restaurant
Opening Hours:
Lunch: Monday - Saturday
11.30am-2.30pm
Dinner: Monday - Friday
6pm-9.30pm
*light menu: 3pm-6pm
EDDY'S
Located at:
Kaya Gob. N. Debrot
(Next to Tennis courts)
Tel. (+599) 717 6731
Bistro de Paris & Zazu Bar
Opening Hours:
Lunch: Monday - Friday
11.30am – 3pm
Dinner: Monday - Saturday
6pm – 10pm
closed on Sundays.
Located at:
Harbour Village Marina
Tel. (+599) 717 7070
Chez Madeleine
Opening Hours:
Thursday - Monday
6pm - 11pm
Located at:
Yachtclub apartments, near
the Harbour Village marina
Tel. (+599) 782 1714
[email protected]
www.chez-madeleine.com
Restaurants & Bars
Appetite
At Sea
Beach Hut (Sorobon)
Bistro de Paris
Bobbejan BBQ
Cactus Blue (Atlantis beach)
Cadushy Distillery (Rincon)
Capriccio
Chez Madeleine
Chibi Chibi (Divi Flamingo Resort)
Courses (Sorobon Beach Resort)
Cuba Compagnie
Donna & Giorgio's
Eddy's
El fogon latino
El Mundo
Go Green
Hang Out Beach Bar (Sorobon)
Ingridients (Buddy Dive Resort)
It Rains Fishes
Karel's Beach Bar/Zeezicht
Kontiki Beach Club (Lac/Sorobon)
La Barca
La Guernica
Le-Ma-Se (Rincon)
Little Havana
Mona Lisa
Osaka Sushi & Teppan Yaki
Paradise Moon
Pasa Bon Pizza
Patagonia
Posada Para Mira (Rincon)
Rum Runners/Pizza Temple
Sebastian's
Sonia Home
Spice Beach Club (Eden Beach Resort)
Subway
The Ribs Factory
Tipsy Seagull (Plaza Beach Resort)
Unbelievable
Wattaburger
717 3595
701 0134
701 6500
717 7070
717 4783
786 0816
786 8769
717 7230
782 1714
717 8285
717 8080
717 1821
717 3799
717 6731
717 2677
717 4601
700 5488
717 5064
717 1684
717 8780
717 8434
717 4514
717 8718
717 5022
717 6343
700 5927
717 8718
782 3140
717 5025
780 1111
717 7725
701 7060
717 8290
717 1697
717 1758
717 8060
717 2110
717 4600
717 2500
717 3000
717 3547
47
Cas di Bara/-Piedra
Cas di Bara (house of branches) is also
known as the "Kunuku house".
This type is the oldest in the line of
traditional building styles. This type
of house was originally built of mud
and sticks with a roof of corn stalks
(maishi).
During the times of slavery most of the
houses on the island were Kas di Bara.
When the slaves were freed they kept
building their houses this way. There
was always plenty of mud, sticks and
maishi and to them it formed a cozy
home. Through time, these houses
developed with walls made of coral
and limestone and was called the
"Cas di Piedra". An original version of
this house can be found at Mangazina
di Rei. The stone walls were covered
with plaster materials. In some old
damaged walls, you can still see the
old stone materials.
These small and cozy houses are still
being built, but nowadays, cement
building blocks are used to form a solid
structure and often they have roofs of
wooden or metal sheets.
Living on Bonaire: Traditional versus modern
Living on Bonaire has meant a lot of different things throughout the history of
this tropical island. The first inhabitants, the Caiquetto Indians, used caverns
and caves as their save refuge from nature's influences.
In the colonial times, the slaves were living in simple huts, made of sticks
and mud. Many of their descendants lived and still live in smaller home
models, based on this traditional "Kas di bara" (see the detail to the left).
Plantation owners and merchants built their larger and more open style of
homes. Nowadays, contractors and architects come up with a great diversity
of luxury homes, but sometimes these are still based on models that started
out as modest shaped houses, but through expansions grew out to impressive
comfortable homes.
Depending on the location of the houses that were built, the old architects
and builders incorporated features that were designed to use nature for the
convenience of the people who lived in their houses. Porches and shuttered
windows were positioned so that the continuous trade winds would optimally
cool their homes.
Cas di Piedra at Mangazine di Rei
Modern architects design houses and villas using some of these traditional
features to make the property not only luxurious, but also economical in use.
On Bonaire we see many brand new houses and even villas that actually look
and feel like traditional homes. Many new homes don't even have windows,
but use wooden or modern material shutters that can be opened and closed
to allow the wind to cool the house. Simple screens keep most of the dust and
mosquitoes outside, so even using these classic features, your home is still
comfortable while you consume less electricity for vans or air conditioning.
49
Finca Lagun:
• For Sale: 4 lots, private property, 5800-7900 m2
• Located next to Kaminda Lagun, +/- 5 min. from the sea and Kralendijk
• Rural living in Bonaire's nature without feeling secluded
• A perfect opportunity for private or commercial development
For more information: www.fincalagunbonaire.com
or call (+599) 701 5421
The main attraction of Bonaire is still its peaceful and friendly atmosphere.
Many people first encounter this while they’re visiting Bonaire. Even though
there are so many cultures entwined in Bonaire's daily live, they all live and
laugh together. It takes more than just palm trees and beaches to feel at home
in paradise. It takes the mix of traditions, cultures, family and friendliness,
combined with respect and love for people and surroundings that makes
Bonaire such a wonderful island to live.
Mingle and learn about the opportunities
When browsing around, looking for existing homes or building plans, there
is a wide choice and variety of homes on Bonaire. It may be a bit of a trick to
find the home that matches your wish list. Fortunately there are quite a lot of
people who would be glad to help you with your endeavor.
Check out the local brokers and when cruising happy hours you may just find
yourself sitting next to a contractor, an interior designer or even an architect.
Bonaire is a small peaceful island and the people are like a familiar crowd.
There is practically always somebody at hand that may just have the golden
clue for you and there are always interesting projects being built somewhere
on this precious piece of paradise.
Start with a piece of land and build your dreams
There is a wide variety of lots to choose from and some of these are already
conveniently accompanied by building plans for houses on them and others
offer just the plain landscape, open for you to create anything you wish.
Do you want your dream house to be near the oceanfront or do you prefer a
beautiful piece of land surrounded by Bonaire nature? Do you wish to have
your home surrounded by green hills or do you prefer to choose a location that is
more open to the fresh trade winds. Again, you can check out the local brokers
or simply ask around. Bonaire has much land that is designated as nature
reserve, but there is also still plenty of land that is divided into lots and ready
to become the foundation of your dreams.
Cas di Hadrey
Cas di Hadrey (front house) is one of
the most typical Bonairean houses.
this type came to be when the Indian
inspired Ramada (a standing structure
of a woven stick roof) was added to the
front of the Cas di Bara.
You could say this was also where the
currently popular porches started out.
Through time, the sides of the Ramada
part (the front porch) of the building
were closed to form rooms for the
expanding families. The middle of that
long front porch was often left open
to remain as a covered porch and the
entry of the house. This is how the
currently popular Cas di Hadrey was
born.
The walls of these houses were made
from sand, saltwater and cement. To
keep heat and bothersome smells
mostly out of the house, kitchens,
washing rooms and bathrooms were
located outside the main house.
Kitchens were mostly built downwind.
The houses were mostly built so
that the sleeping rooms were facing
the wind for optimal cooling and a
comfortable night rest.
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A new house is a clean slate. If you’re in an new place
for the first time, a new living space is the perfect way
to reinvent yourself. You can finally say goodbye to that
lackluster painting that stared you down over your bowl of
cereal every morning, and take this as an opportunity to
clear yourself of excess baggage.
Wooden- or tiled floors and light walls are a great place to
start. Classic materials and neutral colors allow you to take
the room wherever your new decorating touch may lead. A
modern couch looks perfect offset against a classic interior,
and some unexpected tints of natural colors add a hint of
character. After you’ve got your foundation you can start to
add a personal touch. understanding your space is always a
work in progress, and a great accent piece makes a world
of difference.
There are many creative people on Bonaire who aim to
help elevate lean space through smart design and stunning
decor. Living room, Kitchen, Bathroom, Porch, it doesn't
matter where the challenge lies. Bonaire is open and warm.
There is a cool breeze always present so try to use it it.
Whether you’re on a budget or have plenty of dough to
blow, options are countless and often it just takes a creative
mind to help you on your way.
As one of the most expensive rooms to renovate, a bathroom
can make or break a deal when buying or remodeling
a home. When you get ready to model your daily dream
spa, think about a good balance between functionality and
beauty. Double bathroom sinks and walk-in showers are
popular, just like oversized bathtubs and bathroom storage.
Determine what you have space for, what materials are
worth using, and then find a way to add much-needed
storage for beauty supplies and
extra towels.
At Divino Bagno you will find
a perfect partner to build your
bathroom with the elegance of a
classic spa and the friendly touch
of familiar cozyness.
Turn a Boring Backyard Into a Beautiful Oasis
On Bonaire you spend a lot of your time off outside. The
warm climate, combined with a cool breeze and constant
sunshine draws people out. Many homes offer large doors,
opening up to a porch and a beautiful garden.
The rocky soil on Bonaire is not the most easy to work with
when planting your trees and colorful flowers, but it's far
from impossible to get to a creative and beautiful result.
Try adding some small palm trees and colorful bush. If your
soil is too hard to work with or you have a largely tiled or
paved yard, put them all in decorative pots. When driving
around on Bonaire you see many large bush full of colorful
flowers dominating the garden walls. It takes a drip system
to feed all these plants but if you're lucky you can drill a
well in your garden and use brackish ground water for
irrigation. The necessary water pumps can be surprisingly
energy efficient and when you put them on a timer, there
is nothing left to do than just sit back and enjoy your own
beautiful piece of paradise.
Many people also add a sitting- or swimming pool to their
piece of paradise. There are some affordable options for
standing pools to have fun in the warm climate with your
friends and of course there are countless possibilities
when choosing an in ground pool. An in ground pool can
transform your backyard. Whatever you envision, building
an in ground pool gives you the most opportunities to
express your creativity and design a poolscape that is
completely unique.
Photo courtesy Sunbelt Realty, made by Fish-Eye Photo
Living requires space and love
Living rooms serve different purposes for different people. In some homes
they serve as the main gathering area for family, while in others they're more
of a show room, used only when company comes over. Either way, there
are certain issues that always come up when trying to arrange living room
furniture. Check out these tips for placing furniture in your living room.
- Establish the focal point of the room and arrange furniture around it. In some
rooms this is an existing feature such as a fireplace or window, and in some it
will be an object of use such as a television.
- Use the furniture to create conversation areas. People should be able to
comfortably talk to each other without straining their necks or shouting. If the
room is particularly large you might want to create a few different conversation
areas. Also pull furniture away from walls, if the pieces are closer together it
will create a more intimate setting and many people forget to clean under or
behind a couch if it is backed up against a wall.
- Don't forget about traffic flow. Leave enough room for people to walk around
furniture so they can easily get from one side of the room to another.
Once the furniture is in place it's important to think about where to place your
hoice of accessories. No doubt you will have some window treatments and
artwork, and maybe a television and some sconces. Give just as much thought
to placing living room accessories as you do the furniture. A collection of
nicely selected books and magazines is inviting to any living place and they
often lead to funny or interesting conversations.
Check out Homestyle on Kaya Amsterdam for a great variety of furniture and
decorations as well as tasteful styling tips for your dream home.
Cas di Hala
Cas di Hala (Wing House) can be found
all over Rincon and Kralendijk.
If you start with the Kas di Hadrey with
its long front porch or covered front
rooms, you could build a second copy
of this long front part of the house and
place it against the back of the house.
Then you expand the middle house to
the full length of the front and back
and what you have is the model that
is called a house with wings. In many
cases, the main entry would be shifted
to what originally was the side of the
central house.
This is the Cas di Hala. A spacious
house with more or larger rooms and
an elevated center part of the house.
In many cases this center part is used
as a second floor, adding more rooms
to the property.
A popular addition to this model are
the small top windows with wooden
shutters.
The common yellow color that is used
for many of these traditional houses
derives from the mix of white runoff of
the burning of limestone, added with
aloe juice and the fruits of the Divi divi
tree.
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Thanks go out to all who hold Bonaire in their hearts and
spread the positive feeling of this Caribbean paradise.
We are very proud to have so many people on and around
Bonaire who really feel deeply for this island. People with
their heart at the right place and people who wish to
promote Bonaire as a peaceful and friendly home to all.
We thank the people who have helped us again with
checking up on articles and ideas. Thanks to Petri Hausman,
George Thode and Eric Gietman for the fun interviews
and helping us get the Rincon information right. Thanks
to our friends at the Mangazina di Rei for always helping
out with their cultural knowledge. Thanks to the talented
photographers who help us create this beautiful magazine.
Of course also a big thank you goes out to those who help
sponsor this magazine with their business advertisements.
Without all of you, Experience Bonaire would not be what
is has become and we will continue this wonderful project
together.
Outdoor Marketing
- Flags, Banners, Signs, Direct print-to-plate
Printed Marketing
- Business cards, Flyers, Brochures,
Magazines
Creative Marketing
- Floor graphics, Merchandise, Give-aways
Printed Clothing
- Shirts, Tops, Caps, Polos
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